by Michael D. Robbins
Director, Public Safety Project, PublicSafetyProject.org
February 3, 2011
Entry Level Police Officer Qualifications
Entry level police officer qualifications are fairly minimal, and basically amount to graduating high school or having a G.E.D. equivalent document, having a valid automobile driver’s license, being in reasonably good physical condition, and having correctable vision. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist, or even an assistant to a rocket scientist to get a job as a police officer with incredibly lucrative compensation from two to five times that of a highly skilled and talented professional with decades of experience and one or more advanced degrees in a difficult technical field from a competitive big-name university.
The following information was obtained from the official El Segundo Police Department web pages on the official City of El Segundo web site at:
http://www.ElSegundo.org/police/sworn_employment/entry_level_police_officer/default.asp
Entry Level Police Officers must meet the following qualification requirements.
This is a non-sworn entry level position.
All new hires are required to:
- Successfully complete a full-time P.O.S.T. Certified Police Academy of about 26 weeks duration;
- OR must have graduated from a P.O.S.T. certified police academy within the 1 year period prior to filing of application;
- OR be currently enrolled in a full-time P.O.S.T. certified police academy with a ranking within the top 25% of your class.
Upon successful completion of the mandatory police academy, trainees may be elevated to the rank of Police Officer at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
In addition, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Minimum 20 1/2 years of age at time of written test.
- U.S. high school diploma/G.E.D. equivalent. High school must be accredited. College related course work desired.
- Must be United States Citizen at time of filing of application.
- Possess a valid California Class “C” Driver’s License.
- Be of proportional height to weight.
- Be physically able to handle all rigorous duties of police work.
- Normal hearing and color perception. Minimum vision of 20/100 in each eye, correctable to 20/20.
- Smoking and/or the use of tobacco products on or off duty are prohibited as a condition of employment.
- Any visible tattoo(s), body art and/or body piercings are prohibited while performing department duties.
Entry Level Police Officer Compensation
Entry level police officer compensation is quite generous.
The following information was obtained from an El Segundo Police Department recruitment advertisement in the February 3, 2011 El Segundo Herald newspaper (on page 18, lower left corner), from the El Segundo Police Officers Association (union) contract, and from the official El Segundo Police Department web pages on the official City of El Segundo web site at:
http://www.ElSegundo.org/police/sworn_employment/entry_level_police_officer/salary.asp
Entry Level Police Officers receive the following compensation.
Salary Range:
$5,407.54 – $6,572.90 per month ($64,890.48 – $78,874.80 per year) with an additional 9% P.E.R.S. contribution paid by the city.
Initial salary placement based upon prior education, training and experience.
During academy training, salary is $4,326.03/month ($51,912.36/year).
(Note: The web ESPD web page listed “$5,150 – $6,259 per month” and “During academy training, salary is $4,120/month.” The higher figures from the February 3, 2011 ESPD recruitment advertisement in the El Segundo Herald newspaper on page 18 are presumed to be correct.)
Retirement:
P.E.R.S. 3% at age 50 years based on single highest earning year.
P.E.R.S. pension is a defined benefit plan, not a defined contribution plan.
Pension provides a guaranteed amount of pension income, regardless of investment decisions and market cycles and fluctuations.
(Retire as early as age 50 with up to 90% of single highest earning year pay as the annual pension benefit – 3% per year of service up to a maximum of 90% after 30 years of service for the rest of your life).
9% of regular earnings plus special compensation Employee contribution paid by the City.
City pays Employer contribution on regular earnings plus special compensation plus the 9% Employee contribution paid by the City.
Surviving spouse can assume the entire pension as though s/he was the police employee for the rest of her/his life.
Surviving minor children can get pension benefits after death of employee and spouse.
Optional 401(a) deferred compensation plan with employer contributions in addition to P.E.R.S. pension.
Flex Plan:
Allows for payment of employee paid insurance, medical treatment and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Medical:
$1,045 per month for employee & dependents’ medical insurance programs. Employee Assistance Program available for employees and eligible dependents. Paid retiree medical at same coverage level as at time of retirement.
Optical, Dental & Term Life Insurance:
Maximum of $135 per month for employee and eligible dependents toward optical and dental. A $10,000 term life insurance policy provided by the City. Employee may purchase additional life insurance coverage at group rates for spouse and dependents.
Holidays:
Paid 120 holiday hours each December. City pays 100% of employee share of P.E.R.S. on holiday pay.
Paid Vacation:
96 hours a year with 1-5 years of service;
120 hours a year with 6-10 years of service;
144 hours a year with 11-15 years of service;
176 hours a year with 16 years of service; and
17-25 years, plus eight hours for each additional year through 25 years of service.
Can roll over and accumulate vacation leave hours and cash them out at a higher rank and pay rate.
Annual vacation accrual sell-back (up to 50%).
Paid Sick Leave:
8 hours a month (12 days a year) plus partial payment for accrual over 1,056 hours and a percentage of unused leave paid upon service retirement or separation.
Can roll over and accumulate sick leave hours and cash them out at a higher rank and pay rate.
Special Assignment Pay:
Special assignments $425/mo. ($5,100/yr.) and motor officer $511/mo. ($6,132/yr.).
Uniform Allowance:
$715 maximum paid annually for maintenance. Uniform, safety equipment and weapon are provided by the city.
Academy Graduates:
Eligible academy graduates may request to be reimbursed for up to $2,000 for their prior academy training.
Requires ranking in the top 25% of academy class, appropriate documentation and City approval.
Tuition Reimbursement:
100% tuition/books of U.C. costs with prior written approval and grade “C” or better.
80% outside the U.C./Cal State system.
Educational Incentive:
$270 – $467/mo. ($3,240 – $5,604/yr.) for A.A. degree and/or Intermediate POST plus 2 years;
$734 – $770/mo. ($8,808 – $9,240/yr.) for Advanced POST plus 3 years;
$917 – $963/mo. ($11,004 – $11,556/yr.) for B.A./B.S. degree plus 3 years; and
$1,353/mo. ($16,236/yr.) for M.A. degree plus 4 years of law enforcement experience.
Bi-lingual pay $283/mo. ($3,396/yr.) for conversational fluency.
Longevity Pay:
5 yrs. of service, $778/mo. ($9,336 /yr.);
10 yrs. of service, $974/mo. ($11,688/yr.);
15 yrs. of service, $1,135/mo. ($13,620/yr.);
20 yrs. of service, $1,353/mo. ($16,236/yr.); and
26 yrs. of service, $1,926/mo. ($23,112/yr.)
Compensatory/Overtime:
Up to 130 hours of compensatory time combined for physical fitness and overtime hours.
Overtime hours are compensated at time and a half.
Other Benefits:
Voluntary participation in Credit Union,
Deferred Compensation Programs – 401(a), etc.;
PERS Home Loan Program;
Direct Payroll Deposit Program;
Personal Computer Loan Program of up to $4,000 interest free; and
Mandatory Catastrophic Leave Program participation.
El Segundo Police Officers' Association (ESPOA) Exposed